Asian Population Studies
Volume 2, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 45-67

Living with migration: Experiences of left-behind children in the Philippines (Article)

Asis M.M.B.*
  • a Scalabrini Migration Center, PO Box 10541, 1113 Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract

In the Philippines, large-scale overseas migration has raised concerns about left-behind children, who are perceived to be most affected by the absence of fathers, mothers or both. Without their 'real' parents (especially mothers) to rear and guide them, left-behind children are perceived to bear the brunt of the social costs of migration. Based on data collected from a 2003 nationwide study, this article examines how left-behind children (specifically those aged 10-12 years old and adolescents) cope without their migrant parents. Three questions are explored: (1) how children are raised in the absence of one or both migrant parents; (2) how children (re)configure family, family life and family practices; and (3) what roles children have, if any, in how the family unit copes with the migration of one or both parents. Although migration creates emotional displacement for migrants and their children, it also opens up possibilities for children's agency and independence. © 2006 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Family-Philippines Care work-Philippines Socialization of children-Philippines Children of migrants-Philippines Impact of migration-Philippines

Index Keywords

family structure international migration social impact Southeast Asia Eurasia migrants experience Philippines Asia

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33744922672&doi=10.1080%2f17441730600700556&partnerID=40&md5=7319b0727e779bcae944698b6ba5026f

DOI: 10.1080/17441730600700556
ISSN: 17441730
Cited by: 119
Original Language: English